Politics
Rivers crisis: PDP behind its woes – FredFish
Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Akwa Ibom and Chairman, PDP Advocates for Peace and Justice (PAPAJ), Dr Tom FredFish has joined many Nigerians to condemn the declaration of State of Emergency in Rivers State and subsequent suspension of the governor, Sim Fubara by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In an exclusive interview with DAILY POST, FredFish described the President’s speech as a total reflection of how biased he is to the impasse in Rivers State, even as he blamed the leadership of the PDP, including Atiku Abubarkar over failure to wield the big stick against Nyesom Wike, Minister of FCT, whom he referred to as the bone of contention and had involved in various anti-party activities.
Excerpts:
What is your view about the State of Emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu in Rivers State? Is it in accordance with the law?
Well, the President, in his broadcast, claimed he acted according to the law, but what he has just demonstrated is the use of powers and the loopholes created by the Constitution to gain political capital by preparing for the 2027 election. The President was too quick to declare a State of Emergency in Rivers State.
As a chieftain of PDP, which is Fubara’s party, why was your party docile in resolving the problem between Wike and Fubara before now?
If you recall, I have made several alarming statements asking why the leaders of our party, the PDP, are quiet over the unruly behavior and actions of Wike. I had bemoaned Atiku Abubakar and the Chairman of the PDP BoT, Senator Wabara for not taking a stance. I also urged the PDP to suspend Wike or, at most, expel him from the party, but the party seems to have lost its voice to the defeat in 2023 and kept Wike perpetually in charge of the party.
There was certainly no way Wike would want to make peace with Fubara. Wike sees himself as a god that must be serviced with loyalty and allegiance and anyone who has a contrary view is seen as his enemy. So Wike, who sees himself as a demigod, will not want to settle with Fubara, who he thinks has challenged his godlike status in the state and country. Secondly, the party made several attempts to bring both men together, and each time, Wike ended up stalling the peace process. But I can state clearly that the PDP shot itself in the foot by accommodating Wike’s anti-party activities, as well as his attempts to cause chaos in the party.
I am very uncomfortable. The party has shown that it cannot pull itself back to order. Atiku has failed to play the role of an elder statesman. As long as Wike continues to remain in the PDP, the party will not know any peace. They all know what the problem is, but why the party does not have the political will to take the necessary action is what baffles me to date. Wike is a plague that must be uprooted.
Do you see APC taking over Rivers State in the nearest future or before the 2027 elections?
There is no way the APC can take over Rivers State. The party is very unpopular in the state, and the people have rejected such a party, as clearly shown in the 2023 Governorship election. And that’s why Wike, in connivance with the Abuja front, decided to hatch the crisis in the state. The plan of Wike and the 27 members of the House of Assembly was to impeach the governor and offload themselves into the APC. So when they realized that the people were ready to resist such anti-democratic acts, they resorted to the declaration of a state of emergency. President Tinubu’s speech is a total reflection of how biased the president is to the impasse. There is no sign that the APC can take over Rivers State through a democratic process.
Do you think Fubara and the other House of Assembly members would be called back at the end of the six months suspension?
Certainly, there is no reason they shouldn’t be recalled. Except if the President wants to suspend democracy.
What are the implications of the suspension on the people of Rivers State?
There are various implications to the suspension of the governor by the president. First, it shows that the president can use his powers for political gains when he deems fit. Second, it leaves a huge moral burden on the President, who was very fast to resolve the Lagos State House of Assembly crises but very slow and reluctant to act when it comes to Rivers State. Third, it shows that the tenets of our democracy are not truly democratic if the President can wake up and sack a democratic Governor and that the framers of our constitution erred with these loopholes created to make the president plan a coup against the people of a state. Fourth, it leaves a constitutional crisis, especially as it relates to the order for the stoppages of the State Allocation or funds by the Supreme Court to the CBN.
The Supreme Court said that CBN should withhold Rivers’ allocation and release the funds when a proper Local Government election is conducted. Does the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Admiral Ibokette Ibas, have any legal backing to conduct the Local Government election in Rivers State? And will CBN continue to withhold Rivers allocation till Sim Fubara, who has a democratic mandate, returns back in 6 months to conduct LGA election? How will the state run without funds? The Nigerian economy will likely suffer with the renewed bombing of oil facilities in the Niger Delta. The return of hostilities, militancy, and oil bunkering would likely resurface with the sceneries affecting the income of the nation. Lastly, the people of Rivers State will lose in all these episodes.
What are the decisive, urgent actions that the PDP is expected to take?
The PDP needs to expel Wike immediately. Send him packing. After all, Wike has violated the party’s constitution by not showing concern for the party and its affairs. His recent revoking of the PDP secretariat is a sign that the former governor has declared war on his party. He should be shown the way out for peace to return to the party. If the PDP must survive, the party needs to be decisive as it pertains to Wike. They should also make strong statements condemning the President’s actions and expelling the 27 Rivers House of Assembly members for attempting to impeach the governor against the party’s position. Discipline must be enshrined in the PDP if the party must move forward.
The Labour Party in Imo State is engulfed in a bitter leadership clash as the Callistus Ihejiagwa-led faction warns members not to participate in any party activities not sanctioned by his leadership.
The warning comes in response to claims that Sen. Nenadi Usman and Darlington Nwokocha’s faction plans to hold Ward, LGA, and State congresses starting March 26, 2026—moves Ihejiagwa calls illegal and unconstitutional.
Ihejiagwa insists that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has already refused to dissolve existing party structures, meaning any attempt to replace sitting executives is null and void.
He dismissed arguments that INEC officials attending Usman/Nwokocha’s National Executive Council meeting on March 17 would confer legality, stressing that presence does not equal approval.
March 20, 2026
The All Progressives Grand Alliance in Abia State has called on the Senate to declare the seat of the Senator representing Abia South, Enyinnaya Abaribe, vacant following his resignation from the party.
The party made the call on Thursday during a press briefing in Umuahia, where its leadership, led by a former member of the Abia State House of Assembly, Obinna Ichita, insisted that Abaribe voluntarily resigned from APGA and was not sacked, contrary to his claim at the Senate.
Ichita argued that Abaribe’s exit from the party that sponsored his election violates constitutional provisions, stressing that there was no leadership crisis within APGA to justify his defection.
“The senator resigned in his ward. He did so voluntarily, which is his right. However, if you leave the party that gave you the platform for another party when there is no leadership crisis, that seat must be declared vacant,” he said.
He further alleged that Abaribe misrepresented the circumstances of his exit by claiming he was sacked.
“The party has documentary evidence to show that Senator Abaribe was not sacked. He resigned three months after disciplinary measures were taken against him over actions the court did not consider appropriate,” Ichita added.
According to him, the mandate belongs to the people and the party, not the individual office holder.
“They gave him the mandate on the platform of APGA, not any other party. There was nothing like ADC when he was elected. He cannot take the mandate elsewhere without consulting the people who gave it to him,” he said.
Ichita maintained that the constitution is clear on defection, noting that any lawmaker who leaves a party without a valid internal crisis must vacate the seat.
“My message to Senator Abaribe is to honourably vacate the seat instead of waiting for the National Assembly to declare it vacant. That would amount to national embarrassment,” he added.
Also speaking, the APGA State Chairman, Sunday Onukwubiri, and the party’s Public Relations Officer, Chukwuemeka Nwokoro, reiterated that Abaribe had distanced himself from the party’s activities at various levels in the state.
They insisted that he neither holds dual membership nor was he expelled, maintaining that his resignation was voluntary.
“He was invited by the party but failed to appear and was subsequently suspended in line with the party’s constitution. Three months later, he resigned,” the officials said.
Reacting, Abaribe defended his position, insisting that he acted within his constitutional rights.
“When you are no longer a member of a party by virtue of being sent away, you have the fundamental right of association to join another party,” he said.
He argued that his indefinite suspension by APGA effectively amounted to expulsion.
“If a party places you on indefinite suspension for more than six months, what does that mean? It means you have been told to go elsewhere, and that is exactly what I did,” he stated.
The senator added that the proper constitutional procedure for removing him from office would be through a recall process by his constituents.
“If the people who elected me no longer want me, the right thing to do is to initiate a recall. That is the position of the law,” he said.
Politics
Tinubu’s Reforms May Be Challenging, but They’ve Boosted Nigeria’s Global Respect — Information Minister Mohammed Idris
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has stated that Nigeria is receiving greater respect internationally under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking on Friday after attending Jumaat prayers at Yahaya Road Mosque in Kaduna, Mr Idris said, “Nigeria is indeed taking its rightful place. The country is respected more than ever before on the international scene. The reforms that the president has instituted, as challenging as they are, are meant for the benefit of all Nigerians.”
He urged Nigerians to stay calm as the government continues its efforts to restore security across the nation. Referring to the recent multiple b%mb att@cks in Maiduguri, Borno State, the minister assured that such incidents would not be allowed to recur.
“Indeed, our country is facing challenges, and the government is working tirelessly to ensure security throughout Nigeria. We have seen what has happened, particularly in Borno State. We pray to Allah to make this the last one, as the government is committed to preventing any repetition of such incidents,” he said.
Mr Idris also stressed the importance of citizens being prayerful and working together to address the country’s challenges. He encouraged both Muslims and non-Muslims to unite in the interest of Nigeria’s growth and development.
“This is a time for reflection for all Nigerians. We pray that everyone will consider this moment and recognize the need for unity, progress, and national development. All hands must be on deck for the unity of the country. As we earn respect internationally, we also hope and pray that unity will strengthen within our nation,” he added.
IMO STATE LABOUR PARTY DESCENDS INTO FACTIONAL WAR
EFCC evicts Malami from Abuja home amid forfeiture dispute
Fuel price hike: Gov Makinde announces N10,000 transport support for workers
-
Business1 year ago
US court acquits Air Peace boss, slams Mayfield $4000 fine
-
Trending1 year agoNYA demands release of ‘abducted’ Imo chairman, preaches good governance
-
Politics1 year agoMexico’s new president causes concern just weeks before the US elections
-
Politics1 year agoPutin invites 20 world leaders
-
Politics1 year agoRussia bans imports of agro-products from Kazakhstan after refusal to join BRICS
-
Entertainment1 year ago
Bobrisky falls ill in police custody, rushed to hospital
-
Entertainment1 year ago
Bobrisky transferred from Immigration to FCID, spends night behind bars
-
Education2 years ago
GOVERNOR FUBARA APPOINTS COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR KEN SARO-WIWA POLYTECHNIC BORI